The fifth edition of the Soudal Brussels Universities Cyclocross produced victories for Eli Iserbyt and Fem van Empel. The elite races were renamed Memorial Paul De Knop and Memorial Caroline Pauwels. Despite the carnival weekend and the last moto of the season, without tenors Wout Van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, half a million people followed the live TV broadcast and 3,500 spectators on site. The VUB held a small fundraiser during the race for the earthquake victims.
The VUB and ULB campuses were quite full on Sunday afternoon with 3,500 people. The universities and organisation were happy that physical people could attend again. In 2021 and 2022, no spectators were allowed to attend because of the corona virus.
Memorial Caroline Pauwels and Paul De Knop
The cyclocross was also a tribute to the late rectors Caroline Pauwels and Paul De Knop. The elite women's race was named X20 Trophy Memorial Caroline Pauwels, while the elite men's cross was renamed X20 Trophy Memorial Paul De Knop. Their images appeared large on the VUB main building and on the podium where the winners were honoured.
There, Eli Iserbyt stood on the top step in the men's race, convincingly winning the last race of this season. By winning this Brussels university cross, the rider from Kuurne also secured the overall win in the general classification. Among the ladies, world champion Fem van Empel won the race in very strong fashion. This also made the Dutchwoman the winner of the overall classification.
White Hats for earthquake victims
Spectators at the cross could purchase a white hat on arrival for a free contribution of at least five euros. A total of 250 hats were sold, good for a total proceeds of a fat €1,250.
The amount will benefit the UZ Brussel Foundation's fundraising campaign. With its action, the UZ Brussel hopes to raise fifty thousand euro. This will allow additional medical equipment to be sent to Turkey to support the relief efforts there.
VUB rector ad interim Hugo Thienpont: "We empathise with all inhabitants of the affected regions and do not want to look on helplessly. The people there need all of us very much right now. Humanitarian aid groups, such as the B-FAST team with doctor Gerlant van Berlaer and other colleagues from the UZ Brussel, are really making a difference on the spot. Additional medical equipment is needed to provide victims with the necessary medical care. All small financial nudges to get that equipment there are more than welcome."
Catch the atmosphere of the fifth edition of the Brussels University Cyclocross. Here are all the photos.
